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Police credit a five-year-old boy for saving the life of his two-year-old brother in a high-speed tractor-trailer crash that killed the children's father in north Houston.

The boys' father was driving the tractor-trailer southbound on Interstate 45, the North Freeway, near the West Road exit when the vehicle struck a metal guardrail and concrete pillar at around 1:15 a.m. Friday. The tractor-trailer rolled over and caught fire.

The identity of the driver, who died after he was thrown from the tractor-trailer, will not be released until it is verified by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Both children were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital - Texas Medical Center. The five-year-old boy suffered minor injuries while his two-year-old brother was injured with severe burns.

The Houston Police Department investigation is ongoing.

"The statements we were given were from the five-year-old boy," explained HPD Sgt. James Roque. "He is saying his mother was traveling in the RV ahead of them and we have been unable to get in touch with her at this time. She was not involved in the crash and is not at the scene."

"The five-year-old advised us that he actually pulled his two-year-old little brother out from the 18-wheeler wreckage," added Sgt. Roque. "The two-year-old had severe burns to the body. He's at Memorial Hermann being treated. They're saying he's expected to be okay."